Strip feeding apparatus



g- 1953 J. T. DAVRDSON ET AL A 2,650,090

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed D60. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI JOHN TDAV/DgO/Q/l 1953 J. T. DAVIDSON ET AL 2,650,090

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OHWWM v ATT RNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS? John 13;. Davidson and Percy G. Stimson, Dayton,

hio,.assignors. to; The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,556

12 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to record stripfeeding apparatus for writing and imprinting machines and more particularly to means for compensating for shrinkage and expansion of continuous series connected form stationery and for" assuring clean sharp impressions thereonby minimizaccuinulaticn of slack or looseness therein, and maintaining the record strip in close conformity' with the machine platen throughout the recording area.

Th present strip feeding mechanism is especially applicable totypewriters, tabulating; billing and addressing machines utilizing con-tinw ous form stationery; wherein it is quite desirable that the record material be maintained under tension asit passes the recording position, and

that take up means be provided for regulating the tension of the record material both longitudinally and transversely to compensate for expansion andcontraction of the record material and eliminate slack or wrinkles in the material.

relatively few operating parts and beu-nlikel y to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is toprovide strip tension-mg means operative longitudinally of the strip adapted to take up slack therein, and maintain the record: strip under tension, thereby assuring accuracy of registrationand alignment.

A further object of the-invention-is to provide laterally variable strip-feeding means and Vernier adjustment therefor, by which transverse expansion and contraction may be minutelycompensated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double feed arrangementhaving controlling engagement. with the. traveling record strip during itsv advance toward recording position and also during its movement therefrom, after having passed the recording position.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means for adjustably engaging the strip feeding device with its drive, shaft for axial adjustment, thereon into different positions of engagement, and for similarly engaging. strip supportin discs-on the. shaft- A further object of the invention. is to. provide adjustable hinged feeding fingers. for holding and guiding the record strip as it passes the strip engaging and, feeding means and control means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to pro, vide a strip feeding mechanism possessing. the advantageous structuralfeatures. and the inn herent meritorious characteristics and mode of operationhereinmentioned.

Withthe above primary and other incidental object in view aswill more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to. be pro.- tectcd by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, ashereinafter described or'illustrated in: the accompanying drawings,

Inthe accompanying drawings, wherein iSliJlizlSrtrated the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment. of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a. strip; feeding unitfora tabulating machineorthe likeembodying the presentinventiom Fig. 2 isa side elevation. thereon from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is adetail view of someof'the'partsshown in: Fig; 2, viewed from thereverse.

Fig. I -is. a detail View partly section of one of the adjustable strip feeding. devices.

Fig... 5. is a detail View from. the. left: at Big.,

Fig. 6 is a. detail View. of the strip feeding device locking detent.

Figs. 7. and. 8., arev detail. views ot a releasable locking. detent. for an adjustable strip supporting disc.

' Figs. 9 and. 10. are; detail views. of the stripfeeding member anchoring. device of modified form.

Fig. I1 is. a detail side. view, partly broken. away showing the. feed finger adjusting: cam operated' position.

Fig. 12 is a side View! of. the feed finger mounting plate.

Like. parts. are indicated by similar characters ofreference throughout the several; views.

For illustrative; purposes. but no-intent to unduly limit. the form and embodiment. of the present. invention, it is shown. in the: drawings as. embodied in a. feeding or a well. known conventional tabulating; machine; The. general form of the strip feeding. unit as illustrated. in Figs, 1 and 2-. or the: specific construction and operation of the retractable strip feeding pins do not, per se, comprise the subject. matter of the instantinvention, which. as hereinafter pointed out is directedto. particular structural features ofv more or less general application to other forms of embodiment and support.

Referring to.- the drawings, the. unitary structureis. mounted. on ap destal or bracket t and includes. side frames.- 2 to which are: attached 3 side plates 3 supporting arcuate guides 4 over which the record strip 5 passes toward and from the recording position.

J ournaled in the lower forward portions of the side frames 2 is a revoluble platen roller 5 defining the imprinting position. The record strip 5 forms an elongated bight 50! about the platen roll 6 against which it is impressed by the impact of imprinting type bars (not shown). The platen roll 6 may be manually rotated by terminal knobs or by conventional manually actuated line space mechanism. However during normal operation, the feeding unit thus described is preferably power driven from an associated tabulating or imprinting machine.

The platen roll 6 is terminally equipped with a driving gear pinion 8 which, through an intermediate gear train 9, drives a corresponding gear pinion l upon a revoluble feed shaft H in elevated parallel spaced relation with the platen roll 6. The feed shaft H is journaled in swinging plates 12 at each end of the structure, which are pivoted on studs l3 common to the final pinion of the gear train 9, for oscillatory motion toward and from the platen roll. The swinging plates and feed shaft H are manually adjustable by adjusting screws l4 screw threaded into loosely mounted studs l on the inner sides of the end plates 3.

The adjusting screws l4 extend through lateral lugs or ears l6 projecting from the swinging plates l2 and thence into engagement with the rockable studs l5, between which are interposed expansive helical springs H which maintain the swinging arms l2 and feed shaft Ii under elevating tension.

Adjustably mounted on the feed shaft H for axial adjustment toward and from each other are a pair of record strip engaging feeding devices l8. Those shown are rotary pin wheels having progressively reciprocatory feed pins l9 of a type shown in patent to Sherman No. 2,000,649 engageable in marginally spaced feed holes in the strip 5. However, it is to be understood that the particular style of feeding pin wheels having progressively retractive feeding pins are not essential to the present invention. The pin wheels may have rigidly mounted pins, or may be provided with other forms of strip engaging devices.

The strip engaging feeding devices, whether of pin wheel type or of other style, are engageable in different definitely determined positions longitudinally of the feed shaft relative to which position they are capable of further fine or Vernier adjustment.

For such purpose one side of the feed shaft H is serrated or formed with a succession of spaced transverse notches 20. Slidably mounted on the feed shaft II is an anchor collar 2| having a latch device 3| selectively engageable in any one of the notches 20 of the feed shaft II to definitely anchor the collar 2|. Rotatably mounted on the collar 2| is an internally screw threaded sleeve 23 having an enlarged knurled head 24. The sleeve 23 carries a stud 25 engaging in a peripheral groove 26 in an intermediate spacer collar 39, rotatively coupled to the anchor collar 2| by a stud 40 engaging a second peripheral groove 4| in the intermediate collar 39 to limit relative axial movement of the adjusting sleeve 23 relative to the stationary anchor collar 2| while permitting free rotation thereof. The internally screw threaded adjust ing sleeve 23 engages a correspondingly screw threaded hub 21 of the strip feeding pin wheel [8, to shift it axially to and fro. Spring pressed detent plungers 23a successively engage relatively spaced socket depressions 23b in the lateral face of a flange 42 of the intermediate collar 39, shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 to temporarily retain the rotative adjusting sleeve 23 and the axially adjustable engaged pin wheel in their corresponding adjusted positions.

The pin wheel I8 is splined upon the feed shaft II for unison rotation by a key engaging a spline or key way 29 in the side of the shaft opposite its series of serrations 20. The anchor collar 2| being temporarily locked to the feed shaft by its latch device 3|, the pin wheel I8 may be minutely adjusted axially to and fro on the feed shaft H by rotation of the screw threaded sleeve 23.

The ordinary paper record strip 5 is quite susceptible to expansion and contraction with change of humidity and weather conditions. The Vernier adjustment of the strip feeding element l8 transversely of the strip being fed, enables the strip to be maintained transversely relatively taut and minimizes looseness and accumulation of slack which enables better imprinting or impression conditions.

The record strip bight 5a is engaged both incoming and outgoing by opposite sides of the strip feeding pinwheels H3. The construction and arrangement is such that the pins l9 progressively engage the marginally punched feed holes of the record strip at opposite faces of the pin wheels |8. Therefore by manual adjustment of the screws M, the plate l2 may be minutely oscillated upwardly to tighten the bight 511 about the platen roll 6, and subject this portion of the record strip to longitudinal tension.

The strip engaging feeding devices H3 and the platen roll 6 are driven at the same peripheral speed, wherefore the advance of the strip 5 past both feeding and control points and past the imprinting position is uniform.

B'y reverse adjustment of the screws l4 the feed shaft may be correspondingly lowered to compensate for contraction of the strip. This enables the tension of the strip to be regulated as it passes the recording position upon the platen roll 6 and eliminates slack to cause more accurate control of the advancement of the strip by the feeding devices. It also causes the record strip to more closely conform to the platen roll while being imprinted or impressed, thereby effecting more clear and sharp impressions.

The particular construction of the feed pin wheel anchoring latch is not essential. A simple but convenient detent latch is that shown in Figs. l, '7 and 8. This detent latch is equally adaptable for securing one or more strip supporting discs 30 adjustably upon the feed shaft H intermediate the pin wheel feed devices I8. Such latch 2|, comprises a radially disposed reciprocatory plunger 3| in the hub of the disc 30 or in the anchor collar 2| of the pin wheel feed device H3. The inner end of the detent plunger 3| is engageable in any one of the series of spaced transverse notches 20 of the feed shaft The detent plunger. is yieldingly held in engagement with the feed shaft by a split spring ring 32 surrounding the hub of the collar 2| or supporting disc 30, which bears medially upon the outer end of the plunger 3|.

In order to release the anchor collar or supporting disc for axial adjustment on the feed shaft H, the disc or collar is partially rotated aes ocd upon theffeed' shaft; as is. shown in. detail view; Fig. 8, thus shifting the detent plunger out; of the notch 20' onto an unnotched face. of the shaft l I, as in Fig. 8; whereupon. the body, 2!: or 30. as the. case may be, may be freely slidingly adjusted to and fro, and finally by reverse rotation the detent plunger 31' may be restored: to: engagement with a selected notch 20.. This is a. simple, convenient and: inexpensive manner of. locking either the. anchor collar 21. or strip.- supporting discv 30: in their adjusted positions; and quickly effecting adjustment thereon.

In lieu of the radial. reciprocatory detent. plunger 31,. the anchor collar 2 1. and supporting disc 30 may be provided; with substantially L.- shaped latch lever 3 la pivoted at 33 and actuated by a spring 36, to oscillate one arm of the L- shaped latch lever into engagement in. a notch 20 of the series, as in Fig. 9. The detent latch lever 3.1a may be temporarily disengaged to permit axial adjustment of the body upon the shaft by apartial rotation as before describedwhereby the latch lever is caused to-ride to and: fro upon an unnotched face of the shaft, until reengaged by reverse rotation.

To loosely maintain the marginally punched record strip 5 upon the feeding pins l9. at opposite sides of the pin wheels. I8, pivotally mounted swinging slotted guide fingers 35 are hinged at 36 adjacent to the pin wheels 18-. They are mounted in such relation that when in their inner or operative position they overlie the pin wheels with the slots 31 thereof in registry with the path of the traveling pins l9 of the coacting pin wheel, and the slotted guide finger in spaced concentric relation with the periphery thereof.

The hinged guide fingers are interconnected by retractile helical springs 38, which being eccentrically connected with swinging guide fingers permit. the latter to move to and fro past. dead center relation and tend to yieldingly hold the guide fingers 35 alternately in either operative or inoperative positions.

The forward slotted paper guide finger 35 being easily accessible may be manually oscillated toward and from overlapping relation with the pin wheel i8" against the tension of the spring 33, to engage and disengage the record strip relative to the feeding pins 19. However, the paper guide 35 at the rear of the pin wheel, not being so easily accessible, may be shifted away from the pin wheel by manual oscillation of a cam plate 33, mounted concentrically with the shaft l 5, having a radial handle extension 44.

In lieu of rotatively connecting the adjusting sleeve 23 with an intermediate spacer collar 39, as shown in Fig. 4, it may be directly engaged by the stud 25 projecting into a peripheral groove 26 in a hub portion of the anchor disc 2| as is shown in Fig. 9.

Cross reference is made to our copending divisional application, Serial No. 274,022, filed February 28, 1952, the subject matter of which is directed to the various structures shown in Figs. 4 to 12, inclusive, hereof.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described ossessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of. parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the 6 invention has been described. in language more or less: specific as to. structural features, it: isztoi be understood that the invention is: not; limited to: the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of severalv modes of puttingthe invention into eifect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope. of the; appended claims;

Having thus described our invention, we claim;

1. A record strip feeding apparatus for" progress-ive'ly advancing a. strip of record material past a recording position, including a. main frame,. a revoluble feed: shaft;v a; pair of oscillatory supports. in. which. the feedshaft is' journaled, a pair of strip engaging devices mounted on the; feed shaft, a revoluble platen roll journaled in the: main frame in parallel relatively spaced relation with the: feed shaft, a drive. connection for rotating the. strip. engaging devices on the feed shaft and the platen roll at uniform peripheral speeds, means for oscillating the supports of the feed shaft, to shift, the strip engaging. devices thereon toward and from the platen. roll, the construction and arrangement being such that the record strip. defines an elongated bight enclosing the platen. roll, the. opposite sides of which are simultaneously engaged by thestrip engaging devices. upon the. feed shaft, the. tension of which bight of record: strip material may be. regulated by the aforementioned adjustment of the feed shaft to maintain the: record strip in close conformity with the. platen. roll.

2. A strip feeding apparatus. for a writing or imprinting machine. for progressively advancing a continuous record strip pasta recording position,v including a main frame, a revoluble. feed shaft, a parallel spaced platen roll journaled in the main frame for unison rotation. therewith, strip feeding means on the feed shaft simultaneously engaging opposite sidesof an elongated bight of record strip material enclosing the platen roll as the record strip approaches and; leaves: the platen roll, and means for moving the feed shaft about a point eccentricthereto, thereby" varying the relative spacing of the feed shaft and the platen roll to correspondingly vary the tension of the bight of record strip material. passing about the platen roll'.

3". A strip feeding apparatus for progressively advancing a strip of record material past a recording position of a Writingv or imprinting machine, wherein the recording material advances through a bight about a platen roll and past. the recording position, including a pinwheel feeding device, feeding pins projecting from opposite sides of the peripheral face thereof and simultaneously engaging longitudinally spaced feed ing configurations in opposite sides of the bight of the record strip, positively advancing the record strip toward and away from the recording pesi tion, and strip tensioning means comprising a yieldable mounting for the feeding device auto matically subjecting the record strip material comprising the bight to longitudinal tension of predetermined amount.

4. In a strip feeding apparatus, a platen roll about which a bight of record strip material extends, a strip feeding device having positive engagement with opposite sides of the bight of record material for progressively advancing the record strip simultaneously toward and away from the platen roll, a yieldable mounting for the feeding device permitting variation in the rela- 7 tionship of the "stripfeedingdevice and'theplaten" roll for regulating the tension of the portion of the record strip comprising the bight thereof passing about the platen roll, and means for controlling the maximum tension created in the record strip bight.

5. A strip feeding apparatus for advancing a record strip past a recording position of a writing or imprinting machine, including strip feeding means operatively engaging the record strip at relatively spaced points in advance of and beyond the recording position, and spring biased adjusting means for said strip feeding means for regulating the tension of the strip intermediate said points of engagement as it passes said recording position under feeding influence of the feeding means.

6. A strip advancing apparatus for an imprinting or Writing machine including means forming a bight in the strip, means for advancing the bight of record strip relative to a recording position, and yieldable means for said advancing means for subjecting the portion of the record strip comprising the bight to longitudinal tension during its advancement by said advancing means.

7. A strip feeding apparatus including means forming a bight in the strip, strip engaging means for feeding the record strip through the bight thereof wherein it passes the recording position, an oscillatory support for the strip engaging means and means to oscillate the support to vary the spaced relation of the strip engaging and feeding means relative to the recording position to thereby subject the bight of record strip to variable longitudinal tension.

8. A strip feeding apparatus for a writing or imprinting machine including a platen roll about which a length of record strip is formed into a bight, a pinwheel strip feeding device simultaneously engageable with both sides of the bight of record strip effective to feed the portion of the record strip comprising one side of the bight thereof toward the platen roll and to feed the portion of the record strip comprising the opposite side of the bight away from the platen roll, a resilient yieldable mounting for the strip feeding device and adjusting means for varying the relation of the pin wheel feeding device and the platen roll to limit the tension of the portion of the record strip included in said bight thereof to a predetermined amount.

9. A strip feeding apparatus for a Writing or imprinting machine wherein a record strip is progressively advanced past a recording position, including strip engaging means simultaneously engaging the record strip in advance of and beyond the recording position progressively advancing the record strip past recording position and means for subjecting the portion of the record strip intermediate the points of engagement of the strip engaging means therewith to resilient tension of predetermined amount as itis progressively advanced past the recording position.

10. A strip feeding apparatus for a writing or imprinting machine wherein a record strip is progressively advanced about a guide roll and past a recording position, including a guide roll, strip engaging means progressively advancing the record strip past recording position, a rotary supporting shaft therefor, and means for resiliently mounting said supporting shaft under spring tension, the inherent resiliency of such mounting maintaining a predetermined tension within said record strip intermediate the guide roll and strip engaging means as it is progressively advanced past the recording position.

11. A strip feeding apparatus for advancing a record strip past a recording position of a writing or imprinting machine, including a strip feeding mechanism, and a resiliently mounted support therefor including a shaft supporting said strip feeding mechanism, oscillatory supports at each end of said shaft, and spring biasing means normally urging said resiliently mounted support away from said recording position.

12. A strip feeding apparatus for advancing a record strip about a guide roll and past a recording position of a writing or imprinting machine, including a strip feeding mechanism progressively advancing the record strip past recording position, and a spring biased mounting therefor automatically movable toward and from the recording position against the yielding resistance of its biasing means to maintain a substantially constant tension within the record strip as it is progressively advanced past the recording position.

JOHN T. DAVIDSON. PERCY G. S'I'IMSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 680,551 Steiger Aug. 13, 1901 891,095 Pfunder June 16, 1908 1,165,629 Schneider Dec. 28, 1915 1,718,258 Schmidt June 25, 1929 1,854,604 Steinmann Apr. 19, 1932 1,889,527 Barber Nov. 29, 1932 1,903,353 Wingard Apr. 4, 1933 1,986,776 Moore Jan. 1, 1935 2,285,197 Euth June 2, 1942 2,303,635 Hart Dec. 1, 1942 2,309,656 Metzner Feb. 2, 1943 2,345,008 Schmidt Mar. 28, 1944 2,393,471 Johnson Jan. 22, 1946 2,400,226 Euth May 14, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 512,636 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1939 785,069 France May 13, 1935 

